Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-02-10
eucxET-sHoP TouTs.

the Credulity of Their Acquaintance.
Flashily-dressedm men, who were never
known to buy cents worth of stock;
who are not brokers, either regular or
Of the curbstone variety, not yet
brokers' clerks, but who nevertheless
hang around the lively ticker and talk
as glibly of stocks, and margins, and
puts and calls as the busiest operator
in the market, can be seen any day in
Wall street What they do has long
been a mystery to many people on ''the
street, and how they contrive to al
ways be so well supplied with ready
money is something which has per-
picked those to whom their faces are as
familiar as is the dial of Trinity Church
clock.
These individuals have become more
numerous of recent years. To the in
itiated they are known as ''touts,
which is Wall street slang for the giver
of .''tips'' or points on the prospect
i've value of stocks. Many ''shorn
lamb" has learned from bitter expert
ence that the "tout'' is not infallible
in his representations. The methods
of this parasite are peculiar and inter-
resting. The way in which he swindles
his unsuspecting victips was well
illustrated the other day in Broad
street bucket-shop. a reporter hap
pened into the place, and there saw
one of the neatest swindlers who ever
went UNPUBLISHED.
He was one OF the most successful
'stouts" on the street. His clothes
were of the loudest check obtainable.
His tall hat was very shiny. His
watch-chain weighed about ton
more or less. he carried thick En-
glish club with an enormous buckhorn
crutch. His mustache was large, and
of that peculiar greenish black color 50
often seen on gamblers and confidence
men. 1t was about one O'Clock in the
afternoon, and the place was full of
patrons. The ''tout'' was talking in a
loud tone to the buciet-shop proprietor.
They were both laughing, and appeared
excited.
'.Where did you get the tip?" asked
the bucket-shop man.
The "tout'' whispered in his ear.
The bucket-shop man stood off few
feet, and his face wore an expression Of
nstoniShed admiration.
.'Reallv?' he asked. els that
straight? Why, he's the biggest man
in the board"
..Yes, knowing friend Of mine
often gives 'em to me-Tll let YOU in
SO long-see you later and the man
with the big green mustache turned
to 90.
Before he could reach the street,
however, Il ''lamb," who had caught
scraps of the conversation, intercepted
MIN.
Il beg your pardon, SIR began the
lamb with an apologize bleat, but l
understand you have Il good tip on
the market, sir.
The tout seemed annoyed.
'Who told you 1 had 'tip'?" he
asked. "And what if have?"
eff you will give it to me 1 will
make it all right" said the lamb.
'.How? don't understand You"
II will give you half make by
using the information"
'Will you deposit fifty dollars with
the gentleman here as a guarantee of
good faith?''
'.Yes." said the lamb. ''But Of
course if 1 don't win you will get moth
ing"
Certainly said his toutship. "All
I want is that you will not give the tip
away"
The lamb agreed, and deposited
five ten dollar bills. Then the sharper
took him aside and whispered to him
that if he would buy one hundred
shares of 3. f. & II. stock at the
market price it would shortly jump
from three to five points, owing to a
consolidation about to be made with
the c. c. & B. P. r. r. He had just
received this information from one of
the directors of the latter road.
Shortly after this the tout and the
toutee went to an obscure bucket
shop. and there the victim bought his
one hundred shares on three per cent.
margin. This was only the first part
of the tOut's little game. As soon as
he saw the money paid for the margin
he excused himself and went around
the corner to another bucket-shop on
New street.
There. after throwing out some dark
hints to the proprietor, he caught an
other gudgeon. Almost the same con-
versation as was had with victim No. l
was gone through with, the only inn
portant difference being that this time
the advice was to sell one hundred
shares of B. F. & H. The second lamb
meckly went to the slaughter-house
recommended nv tho font and demos